In Praise Of San An
This season San Antonio started to rediscover its soul. Don’t write off the place where Ibiza as we know it began
A well-manicured, mid-30s woman on our plane to the White Isle is talking to the young couple sat next to her. As you do on an Easyjet that's headed to a holiday destination, she asks them where they're staying.
"San Antonio."
Her voluptuous lips curl in disgust. "Oh God…"
"What's wrong with it? Have you stayed there?"
"Stayed there? I haven't even been there! Wouldn't be seen dead," the woman scoffs.
Like many, her opinion is derived from hearsay and decade(s) old headlines along with the misconception that the notorious West End is San Antonio.
She's wrong. Not only were there strong signs of a San Antonio renaissance this year, but anyone who writes off the original Ibiza party town is wrong. Forget the snobbery and open your mind. Here's why San Antonio shouldn't be written off.
History
Ibiza's current popularity is primarily due to it being the epicentre and birthplace of rave culture. That culture started in the West End of San Antonio and although the legend goes Nicky Holloway, Trevor Fung and their now superstar DJ cohorts discovered the Balearic sound listening to Alfredo in Amnesia (which is actually in San Antonio's boundaries), their first port of call and the place they spent most of their holiday were the West End bars and clubs. Nicky Holloway even opened the infamous Milk Bar there.
Beaches
The West side of the island is renowned for its beaches. San An right in the middle of all the best ones – to the south Cala Comte & Cala Bassa – to the north Cala Gracio, the rock plateaus of Punta Galera and then Cala Salada. Cala Des Moro in San An, opposite Buddha, is the best beach in central San An and always busy with workers and young Brit clubbers.
